Mojak Lehoko

Cartoon Network Africa’s Future Plans For More Local Content And Viewing Ratings Performance

South African media news website – The Media Online has interviewed the channel manager of Turner Africa (and France) – Julien Borde, in the interview, Julien talked about the new pop-up channel in Africa – Superhero HQ, new local content and viewing ratings.

Interview Summary With Julien Borde:

Regarding the temporary pop-up channel – Superhero HQ (Super-powered by Cartoon Network), Julien said a channel was needed to target both adults and kids, as 51% of CN’s audience are in fact adults and includes adults who watch animation with their children, as TV shows and movies about superheroes are popular at the moment, it was an ideal theme for the pop-up channel. Superhero HQ was set up to air during the school holidays, which is when children’s television broadcasters have a captive audience and Cartoon Network wanted to make use of its animation library, which includes CN’s original programming, content from Warner Bros. Animation and some acquisitions. In order to localise the channel for an African audience, Turner hired South African comedian Mojak Lehoko who created some superhero related comedy sketches for the channel.

Local Content and Localisation

Julien Borde also said that there will be more local content appearing on Cartoon Network Africa very soon, including a second season of the dance show – Pop Up Party and magic show – WOOALA! Pop Up Party season two will feature 15 super-talented kids from different backgrounds in Cape Town going head to head to express themselves through movement and dance. In WOOALA!, Wian, a 23-year-old South African magician, will use everyday objects to perform illusions and magic tricks that will amaze children and their parents.

Cartoon Network Africa also developed its new Creative Lab initiative, which is an opportunity for potential African animated show creators. The winning shorts are currently being produced and will be shown at DISCOP Johannesburg 2019 in November. After some market research, it was revealed that the African market is very interested in anime as a comic form, Cartoon Network Africa has acknowledged the findings and will premiere a new anime series on Cartoon Network Africa on Saturday 27th April – Bakugan: Battle Planet.

Viewing Ratings, VOD, Content Distribution

Turner’s content is distributed to 56 different countries in Africa, because of local differences, Turner has to make sure its content is suitable for each market it broadcasts to. Turner Africa had a successful end to 2018 with the children’s channel multiplex (Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Boing and Toonami) and TNT reaching new viewing rating highs.

Cartoon Network remains to be the favourite children’s channel in South Africa, dominating the top 15 best performing shows. Cartoon Network’s Ben 10, Apple and Onion and Craig of the Creek are particularly popular in Africa. Boomerang is also growing, its now the second favourite childrens channel in Africa, for kids aged between 4 and 14 years old, it’s also the second most popular channel in French speaking Africa (Boomerang France is received in Francophone Africa). Recently, TNT was the second movie channel within the total African movie channel movie market (source: AGB Nielsen).

In Africa, conventional linear pay-TV is still a popular option for entertainment, however Turner has worked with DStv to provide programming on its Catch Up VOD (Video On-Demand) service and is distributing Boing Africa and Toonami Africa on Cell-C’s live-streaming service – Black. Turner also formed a partnership with South Africa-based streaming service Showmax, the deal included Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim programming.

On Friday 15th March, Cartoon Network Africa will be launching a superhero themed pop-up channel called “Superhero HQ” on Multichoice’s DStv satellite television platform (on channel 300). The channel will feature the best animated action content featuring DC Comics’ iconic superheroes including Batman, Superman, the rest of the Justice League, the Young Justice team and the Teen Titans. During evenings, families will get to enjoy a superhero movie including all four Superman movies and all three Spy Kids movies, plus animated movies including The Lego Batman Movie, Batman Gotham Knight and Justice League: Throne of Atlantis. In the channel’s name, “HQ” means headquarters, meaning it’s the “Headquarters for Superheroes”. The channel is essentially a temporary version of “Toonami” for DStv subscribers (excluding anime such as Dragon Ball Super but includes a few live-action movies), as Toonami Africa is carried on Cell-C’s Black streaming service.

South African comedian, Comic’s Choice Award and Emmy Award nominee, Mojak Lehoko, will providing a more localised African feel to the channel as well as humour, both on-air and off-air, including superhero themed comedy stand-up videos.

The channel is only a temporarily pop-up channel and will only be available until 31st March, Superhero HQ is exclusive to DStv customers who are subscribed to the following packages: Compact, Premium and Premium Plus.

Superhero HQ is an exciting new Pop-Up channel premiering on DStv, super-powered by Cartoon Network. Superhero HQ is where universally appealing superheroes will share their best stories about saving the world and their most action-packed adventures, offering viewers an almighty battle between the best of animated adventures against the unsurpassed action-packed superhero movies for the whole family to enjoy!

Between 15 and 31 March, these much-loved superheroes will set up home on DStv channel 300. During the day, the kids will get to enjoy eight of their favourite animated, caped-hero series like Batman, Superman, Justice League, Green Lantern and Teen Titans. Then, in the evenings, the whole family can settle down to watch some superhero sagas such as the four Superman films, and all three Spy Kids movies. For fans of the legendary animated superhero movies, the ultimate selection has been made including The LEGO® Batman Movie, Batman Gotham Knight, and Justice League: Throne of Atlantis.

But, it’s not only superheroes that will be making their rounds in this domain; they will join forces with acclaimed South African comedian, Comic’s Choice Award and Emmy Award nominee, Mojak Lehoko, who brings some African flavour and lots of laughter to the channel, on and off air. In-between the anticipated superhero programming, Lehoko will present super-comedic stand-up videos where he identifies with the humour found in the superheroes of the channel.

“I like being creative, always trying to do new things, and now being part of Cartoon Network’s Pop-Up channel, with relatable characters, makes me feel like a superhero! This channel is a special treat for the legions of superhero fans young and old delivering thrilling action as well as moments to laugh out loud,” says Lehoko.

Exclusive to DStv Premium, Compact Plus and Compact, Superhero HQ is the exciting channel where your favourite superheroes will gather for the holidays. For the full schedule, as well as the latest information, visit www.DStv.com

List of titles on Superhero HQ Pop-Up channel:

Series:

Batman the Brave and the Bold; Batman the Animated Series; Superman the Animated Series; Green Lantern; Justice League Action; Young Justice; Justice League Unlimited and Teen Titans.

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